MandyNi

OK so I'm probably a fair bit more mature than some of you, and given our (mine & M's) ages, and the fact that I've done it all before, I might not want the big day that some do.

However I do want what I described to M. as a small but perfectly formed wedding. Intial thoughts are to book one of the nicer hotel's in Vegas (maybe Bellagio/Venetian/Wynn) for a package. Mainly because we can drive there and have it mostly planned before hand by someone else, no stress, no worries, good weekend away.

However, I've been deliberating about a dress - now having found a few that I like, I was wondering how do other brides to be manage it? There are pretty long lead in times so do you find something here (which appears to be unlikely unless you are planning way ahead given aforementioned lead in times), or do you take your chances Stateside? Part of the issue seems to be that I'm not your svelte (dodgy spelling?) younger bride - I am a mature women with curves, lots of curves (most of them where they are supposed to be lol!) so unlikely to get something just off the shelf. I'll be in LA county so does anyone know if they have a better choice of gowns, selection of sizes, would I be better just getting something made when I get there etc. etc.

I'm just rambling, but at a bit of a loss to know what might be the best route!?

traceym

Awwwwwwwwwww Mandy, follow your heart?

Little tip, google wedding dresses, I was astounded at whats out there and what you can buy on line for a fraction of the price!

Happy looking, how exciting!

We want pics!

Noorah101

Can't help you with this one, Sadegh and I decided to get married the same day we applied for the marriage license. We had just enough time to rush home and get the money to pay the JP. When we stood to take our vows, he was wearing a red Nike T-shirt and jeans, and I was wearing brown slacks and some kind of blouse. My best friend was wearing workout clothes (she could just barely make it last minute on her way to go see massage clients). My sister and her husband were the best dressed of all of us, wearing business casual, having just come from work. LOL

Before Sadegh got here, I shopped at Dave's Bridal, but after trying on about 6 gowns, I decided they just aren't for me.

Rene

nettlebed

+1 on this. M got a vintage 1930s bias-cut silk wedding dress on eBay for $65.

MandyNi

Oh gawd I've googled and looked but I have expensive tastes and it's not everything that suits some old, small and curvy. I'd go Rene's route but M. hasn't been married before and is a bit more comformist than me so I suspect if I turned up in red he'd be a little disappointed.

I did suggest a drive through and he was a No No on that lol. So although it will be organised quickly and won't be huge, like I say I think we're aiming for small but elegant.

I sent M. pics of about 20 dresses (just to get an idea of there was anything he particular hated!). Funny thing is he picked my top two. Maybe I'll just end up taking the pics to a dressmaker/tailor in LA and get it made to fit all me lumps and bumps lol.

Bluegrass Lass

Defo do some searching online. Take your measurements (chest/hips/waist) and see if you can find sizes that will fit. If you want to shop at a bridal store here in the US, you'll find the same probs with leadtimes. They usually only carry so many sizes in the store and then you have to wait for it to come in, and then you have to go through the drama of getting it taken it in all the right places. You could easily be looking at 6-8weeks.

That being said, you can usually find some nice dresses (not necessarily white) at quite a few dept. stores, which you could then take to your own tailor..and it may be quicker than a bridal store. If you think you'll be shopping around the March/April time-frame, that is prime Prom dress season and you'll find tons of formals on the racks then. Obviously they may not all be to your taste though, given you're not a teenager anymore!

MandyNi

I suspect given I need to sell the house, it could be more like June/July time for a wedding.

MandyNi

Hey now, reign in that sassyassedness , I may be an old tart but I want to look nice lol!!!

rebs

If you've got more time in the UK than the 90 days before the wedding in the US, would it make more sense to have it sorted in the UK and take it with you? That way, you'd have the outfit with you - one less thing to sort out in a finite space of time.

TracyTN

I don't know how 'curvy' you're talking, but I'm certainly no stick figure either and I didn't have trouble finding dresses to try on at David's Bridal and the like.

Bluegrass Lass

Now, now! Don't take it like that. I'm just thinking you may want to look classy and elegant on your wedding day, and not have all your 'stuff' hanging out, as is the trend with teens - I wouldn't exactly classify Prom dresses as 'nice' per se (but they sure are pricey!). But, hey, if your taste goes to showing all your 'stuff', then by all means those Prom dresses may suit you!

Tbh, if you're looking for nice, but don't want to wait 2months for it or break the bank, there are usually a lot of nice formal dresses available off the rack in a lot of dept. stores here. Wish I could offer more advice. Since I'm the USC, I didn't have to worry about what country to buy a dress in.

Noorah101

Nordstroms has really nice formal wear.

Rene

MandyNi

Yep agree, but they are talking 6 months to sort something out. I def. won't be here in six months.

MandyNi

LOL well if I'm going to show my stuff then I might as well do a Pamela Anderson!

I guess it is probably going to be easier and more realistic to wait until I get to the US.

rebs

June/July is not that far off 6 months if you get your skates on and get something ordered soon...

What if you get here, then find out it will take 6 months to get what you want